Local performer Jon Clarke will amaze on his dancing Wheel of Death at the Darwin Show this week. Picture: HELEN ORRSource: News Limited

SPECTATORS will be dazzled by a death-defying daredevil at this year’s Royal Darwin Show.

Performer Jon Clarke has a 2m aluminium hoop dubbed the Wheel of Death to wow the crowd. The wheel was used at the acclaimed Creatures of Habit shows at Brown’s Mart Theatre earlier this year.

“It’s a mix of circus tricks and dance,” Mr Clarke said of his show. “It’s going to be great – most of the performances I’ve done have been for the art crowd, so it’s great to share it with a new audience.”

Mr Clarke said the technical term for the huge hoop was a “roue cyr” but he nicknamed it Arlo.

He has been practising with it at Corrugated Iron Youth Arts where he works.

Adding to his acrobatic ability, Mr Clarke has learnt Latin dance from years spent in Peru.

Punters may be in for an impromptu tango waltz number or a Romanian folk song, if time permits.

Royal Darwin Show chief executive Cherry Court said the show, which starts on Thursday, had something for everyone. “(It) offers a fun Top End experience you won’t want to miss,” she said.

Other acts across the three days include Spectacular Canadian Lumberjacks, Dora the Explorer, television gardener Graham Ross and Reggae Dave and the Iries.